15 Day Point to Point Horse Riding Holiday in Kyrgyzstan

For nine days you will be on horseback for four to six hours daily. You'll ride through green pastures along old animal tracks, sometimes using a dirt road. You need to be in good physical condition. Do not expect luxury, you will be living the life of Kyrgyz nomads. The average altitude is about 2.000 meters.

Schedule

Day 1

Departure from your local airport.

Day 2

Arrival at Manas International Airport (FRU) and transfer to the hotel. After a short rest, you'll have a light lunch and then some sightseeing in Bishkek.

• Overnight would be in the hotel

Day 3

You'll be transferred by a minibus to the Sonun yurt camp on the south side of the Lake Issyk-Kul (1600 meters altitude). It's time to relax and get used to the new time zone and changes in altitude. You can also do swimming and hiking. Sonun is located in the so-called “Badlands”, a dry semi-desert area at the border of the lake.

• Overnight would be in yurts

Day 4

Transfer to the Tosor Canyon where you will meet the horsemen and horses. You'll start your horse riding to Boz-Salkyn (2,500 meters) through the mountains. The yurt camp is located near the forest.

• Overnight would be in yurts

Day 5

You'll ride from Boz-Salkyn to Temir-Kanat over alpine meadows and some forest. This yurt camp is located on a plateau (2,450 meters). The distance is 32 kilometers in total.

• Overnight would be in yurts

Days 6

You'll have a horse riding up into mountains to about 3,100 meters, close to the glacier, in and around Temir-Kanat.

• Overnight would be in yurts

Day 7

You'll head west on horseback through small villages and stop at Toguz - Bulak where you will have lunch with a local family. In the afternoon, horse riding is in the area and you will spend the night with a local family.

• Overnight would be with a local family

Day 8

Horse riding in the mountains south of Toguz-Bulak.

• Overnight would be with a local family

Day 9

You'll continue to the west and to the small village of Kol-Tor at 2200 meters.

• Overnight would be with a local family

Day 10

It's a day of horse riding in the Kol-Tor area

• Overnight would be with a local family

Day 11

You'll ride from Kol-tor over the ala Bash pass to the yurt camp, Tuura-Suu at 2200 meters. This yurt camp is close to the village with the same name. You'll have a horse riding around Tuura-Suu.

• Overnight would be in yurts

Day 12

You'll have a horse riding in the Tuura-Suu area, a visit village, and meet other herdsmen.

Day 13

You'll have a transfer by a minibus back to Bishkek. In the afternoon, there will be time to visit a bazaar for shopping.

• Overnight would be in a hotel 

Day 14

It's the free day for shopping. You can visit Osh Bazaar and many other places. Lunch is not included.

Day 15

It's departure day which also marks the end of the holiday.

There is a great variety in landscapes in Kyrgyzstan. High mountains with glaciers, alpine pastures, semi-desert, and lush river valleys, all are present. A great many Kaska Suu's, meaning "silver rivers" can be discovered in the mountains. You will find valleys with forests and naked, bare hills.

Due to these different landscapes, you will find a great diversity of plants and animals. There are about 400 plants that only occur in this area, like some special kind of tulips and crocuses. More than 300 species of birds, 30 kinds of reptiles and amphibians and over 10.000 different insects live here.

In the mountains live wild goats, ibex, and marco-polo sheep. About 60% of the snow-leopard population is living in Kyrgyzstan. The chance that you will see one is, however, extremely small. In the Tian-Shan you can also find brown bears and wolves. The most common mountain animal however is the marmot.

Kyrgyzstan - officially the Kyrgyz Republic - is an independent state with its own constitution since 31 August 1991. Now it is one of the democratic republics of Central Asia. The president - the head of the state – is directly elected by the people for a single 7-year term, and the parliament elected directly for a five-year term.

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Over the centuries, many different peoples settled in Kyrgyzstan. Uzbeks, Dungans, Russians, Tatars, and others joined the Kyrgyz and brought their cultures, habits, and cooking traditions. Many traditions quickly spread over the country, but some remained characteristic only for certain groups.

Thus today, in Kyrgyzstan they have a great cultural potpourri. However, there is one tradition that all the ethnic groups have in common - for the guest, the best is just good enough.

At Ecotour Kyrgyzstan, they continue this tradition. In their yurts, they only serve fresh and ecologically grown food produced in the region. With love and care, the cooks prepare national dishes as well as the distinct food of the ethnic groups.

• Program as described
• Horses to ride
• Transportation by own minibus
• Transfer from and to the airport
• All meals
• 14 nights' accommodation
• English speaking guide / interpreter
• Road taxes

• Flight
• Insurances
• Personnel expenses
• Tips
• Alcoholic and other bottled beverages
• Entrees
• Activities not mentioned in the program

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.